3. The world’s population is increasing rapidly, especially
in developing countries like the Philippines. This
brings about enormous problems relating to adequate
food supply, availability of land and water, energy and
acceptable standards of living for the majority of the
population.
4. In 1994, representatives from 179 countries convened to form an
international agreement to put population concerns at the center
of all economic, political and environmental activities. The goal
was to address the critical challenges and interrelationships
between population and development. Collectively, the
International Conference on Population and
Development (ICPD) has agreed on the following programs of
action:
Universal access to primary education
Reduction of infant and child mortality
Reduction of maternal mortality
Access to reproductive and sexual health services including
family planning
5. After five years of program implementation, the ICPD
program of action was reviewed and additional 4
programs were included to benchmark on the
following:
Education and literacy
Reproductive health care and unmet need for
contraception
Maternal mortality reduction
HIV/AIDS prevention
6. The member states of the United Nations including the Philippines
met in September 2000. the body adopted the Millennium Declaration,
which is actually a commitment of the international community to
sustain social and economic progress in all countries. The development
goals are as follows:
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower women
Reduce child mortality
Improve women’s reproductive health
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop goals partnership for development
7. How far has the Philippines gone in achieving the ICPD and
MDG? The 2003 National Demographic and Health Survey has
statistical data to show and to report the achievements of the
program as well as the unmet needs
In terms of universal access to reproductive health services, the
2003 NDHS reports that fertility is highest among the less
educated, the poor, and those in the rural areas. The actual
fertility is higher than the desired fertility. Over 60% of currently
marries women want to have 2.5 children (actual fertility rate)
but the total fertility rate is 3.5 per woman. This could be
explained by the fact that those who were surveyed really
intended to have fewer children but did not use any family
planning methods, religion, access to free services, men’s
participation in reproductive health and poverty.
11. Why rapid population growth is a
problem? Population growth remains rapid in many poor countries. For example, the population of
West Africa is expanding at an annual rate of 2.6 % and is expected to more than
quadruple in size by the end of the century. The projected addition of one billion people
to the region’s current population of 320 million is an obstacle to development and
makes it difficult to be optimistic about the future of this and other regions with similar
demographic and socio-economic conditions. There are several reasons for concern:
-Environmental degradation: Global environmental problems (e.g. climate change,
decreasing biodiversity) receive much media and scientific attention in the West, but are
not a high priority for policy makers in poor countries, except where substantial
populations live in low lying coastal areas (e.g. Bangladesh). Instead, most developing
countries have critical local environmental problems that require urgent attention,
including shortages of fresh water and arable land, and water, air and soil pollution.
Environmental stresses have been building up over time and are likely to become much
more severe as populations and economies expand further.
-Economic stagnation: In poor societies population sizes often double in two or three
decades. As a result, industries, housing, schools, health clinics, and infrastructure must
be built at least at the same rate in order for standards of living not to deteriorate. Many
communities are unable to keep up, as is evident from high unemployment rates,
explosive growth of slum populations, overcrowded schools and health facilities and
dilapidated public infrastructure (i.e. roads, bridges, sewage systems, piped water,
electric power, etc)
12. In addition, rapidly growing populations have young age structures. The resulting low
ratio of workers to dependents depresses standards of living and makes it more difficult
to invest in the physical and human capital needed for expanding economies. The size of
the formal labour force is also limited by the need for women to remain at home to take
care of large families.
-Maternal mortality: High birth rates imply frequent childbearing throughout the
potential reproductive years. Each pregnancy is associated with a risk of death, and this
risk rises with age of the mother and the order of the pregnancy. In the least developed
countries the life-time risk of dying from pregnancy related causes is near 5% and many
more women suffer related health problems or disabilities.
-Political unrest: Half the population of the least developed world is under age 20.
Unemployment is widespread because economies are unable to provide jobs for the
rapidly growing number of young people seeking to enter the labour force. Vigorous
competition for limited numbers of jobs leads to low wages which in turn contributes to
poverty. The presence of large numbers of unemployed and frustrated males likely
contributes to socio-economic tensions, high crime rates and political instability.
Of course, population growth is not the only or even the main cause of poverty in the
developing world. Nevertheless population growth has pervasive adverse effects on
societies and hinders development efforts. Poor countries would be better off with lower
population growth rates.
16. Population growth has outstripped increases in
food production.
The per capita food production DROPPED because of
high population growth rate.
17. It is estimated that at lea half of our children are either
MALNOURISHED or UNDERNOURISHED.
If we are to avoid having billions of people alive but
INADEQUATELY FED, we will need to at least triple
the present food supply.
18. This could be enhanced by
bringing new land under cultivation
making better use of land already cultivated
increasing the food supply of food taken from water sources
from
producing non-agricultural food
improving the processing and distribution of food
persuading people to eat food
NOW COSIDERABLE INEDIBLE & WASTED
19. MORE schools, classrooms and other materials to be
needed by the children.
The quality of education is difficult to measure.
20.
21. Substantial portion of the effort and money devoted.
to primary education is wasted.
Statements on record by the Secretary of Education
Jesli Lapus lament a
TO BE CONTINUED
